Peterson Cabin & Sand Creek Schoolhouse 

sand Creek Schoolhouse

The school was originally built near the old Wenton Coal Mine (probably in the early 1900's) about six miles west of Cedaredge. It was later moved onto the Hallenbeek property, a more accessible and convenient location.

The building was converted into a three room home to house farm workers when it was no longer needed as a school.

Clarence and Lottie Hawkins donated the building to Pioneer Town. Moving it proved to be yet another challenge. The year was 1987. A fence was taken down, brush removed, and an attached shed, complete with pack rats, detached from the main building. At least one pack rat remained and traveled to Pioneer Town, appearing on the rooftop on arrival. Bait was supplied in case other unwelcome guests had made the journey.

The school had no bell... no bell tower. A bell was located and a tower added atop the schoolhouse to house the bell that can be rung by visitors inside the building.

One room, originally the kitchen, has been set up to represent and early day classroom. Desks of various sizes were donated by the Delta County School District. Several shelves of encyclopedias and text books, maps, water bucket and tin drinking cups, along with other donated classroom memorabilia reflect an early day schoolroom.

A letter written to SCHS by Sydney (Forney) Hardenbugh of Amarillo, Texas told of her emotional experience when she toured Pioneer Town, specifically when visiting the schoolroom.

Her father Floyd Forney had taught at the school in 1924/25. He had written the story of his life prior to his death in 1998. Hardenburgh shared part of his story by sending several pictures, his diploma and teaching contracts along with several pages of his memories.

These are displayed in the Sand Creek school house. When asked to teach there, Forney had not yet finished high school. He passed the teachers' examination, received his diploma, signed a contract, then attended summer school in Gunnison. He was 19 years old. Not only did he have the responsibility of teaching all the kids in his neighborhood, he was also janitor, painter and sports coach.

Describing the school, He wrote, "It had just been moved from about five miles away to its (then) present location. It was one room with about 15 desks, a large wood stove, a teacher's desk, and one blackboard. The drinking water was in a large stone jar on a table. The toilets, of course, were outside set back in the timber." The next year he was asked to become principal of the two room school at Coalby with numerous added duties at a salary of $110 a month.

The front of the building became the entrance to Pioneer Town until the Welcome Center was built. It featured a gift shop That space is now divided in two sections. One, accessed from the school room contains an organ from the Girling collection refinished by Carolynn Anderson. Rev. J.A. Hunsicker’s desk is also displayed here. He was the first Pastor of the Eckert Presbyterian Church and educator in Surface Creek Valley Schools. Early local school photos cover the walls. Related items are displayed.

The rest of the building is devoted to office space and archives.

 

Peterson Cabin

Otto Peterson and his wife Jane arrived in the Surface Creek Valley in 1882 and first settled in the southern end of the valley (Cory). They obtained 120 acres west of the present town of Cedaredge and built another home there in 1884-1885. Their one room log cabin was built of Grand Mesa spruce logs, one of the first homes to be built in the area. An attic area served as a sleeping area for the couple's nine children, though some of the older boys may have slept in a shed out-back or outdoors when weather permitted. A lean-to made of sawed lumber provided a kitchen and dining area for the growing family.

Eugene Peterson, son of Otto and Jane, continued to live in the cabin for many years... later... left empty and neglected. The property was purchased by James H. "Mike" Kiser, nephew of another pioneer William Kiser. Mike donated the cabin to Pioneer Town. The lean-to was removed. In 1983 the cabin was moved to its present location, between the silos and Sand Creek Schoolhouse.

Old flooring was located and installed. Inside walls were rebuilt by volunteers. A local Boy Scout troop took on the project of re-calking the logs. Furnishings, including a Gem cook stove, china cabinet, table, bed, and accessories were contributed by the Peterson family and local residents. The interior was put together by Otto's grandson Archie and his wife Dode with help from friends and relatives.

At the end of each project, SCVHS thought the museum was complete. Not true...there was more to come!

 

 

Pioneer Town History

Chapel of the Cross

The state-of-the art three manual model of the Allen organ is the same as that installed in the largest church in the world located on the Gold Coast of Africa.